Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda began by acknowledging the quality of debate that has ensued over the Bill, and said that it "shows how serious (they) are on this issue."

He then said that he "fully opposes" commercial surrogacy.

14:54 (IST)

If single parents can adopt, they should be allowed surrogacy: Supriya Sule

Speaking about the surrogacy Bill, NCP MP Supriya Sule noted that the five-year "cooling period" clause in the Bill is not conducive as medical tests can be done to prove a couple's fertility or lack thereof. She also said: "Sometimes a fertile couple may not have children due to medical reasons, they should not be left out."

She also noted that the provision of surrogacy only applies to married couples, and that other family structures are ignored. "If single parents are allowed to adopt, they should be allowed to have surrogates as well.

"The Centre brought in this bill as per Indian culture and tradition. The question of live-in relations, as TMC leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar pointed out, does not fall under this as there is no way to see who lives with whom," said BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.

However, he chose to begin his address by pointing out that the Congress was not ready by deabte on any subject.

14:34 (IST)

'Surrogacy bill doesn't define close relative'

BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab says the surrogacy bill does not define the "close relative" who can become a surrogate mother. He also points out that the bill does not mention the legal recourse a couple can adopt if their plea for surrogacy is rejected.

14:30 (IST)

Features of Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016

The bill aims to regulate the commissioning of surrogacy to prevent exploitation of women, especially those in rural areas and completely ban commercial surrogacy. It aims to ensure that parentage of children born out of surrogacy is “legal and transparent”.

Only Indian couples who were legally married can have children through surrogacy if at least one of have fertility issues, as per the bill. It also allows for surrogacy only for altruistic reasons and disallows exchange of money.

14:25 (IST)

BJD MP Bhatruhari Mahtab speaks on surrogacy in India

The surrogacy bill is being discussed in the Lok Sabha even as protesting MPs are keeping up their sloganeering. BJD MP Bhatruhari Mahtab is listing out the action the Government of India has taken over the years on curbing illegal surrogacy and exploitation of India. "Only two hour have been allowed for the deliberation of this bill," he said, implying that this was insufficient time to discuss this pressing issue.

14:19 (IST)

Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar speaks on surrogacy bill

Speaking after the surrogacy bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha, Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar highlighted the need for changes in the bill, pointing out that the current bill has no provision for same sex couples, which was legalised recently. She also pointed out the need to train clinics to prevent malpractice and also stop the trend of "fashion surrogacy", like by some filmstars, because they don't want their "figure to be destroyed".

"We will stand by these women who are suffering. Till today, society looks down upon women who can't bear children."

She also proposed including provisions to include Indian couples living abroad in the bill and also consider the LGBT community. She called for a public debate on the surrogacy bill.

14:10 (IST)

Health Minister JP Nadda introduces Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016

Nadda introduced the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, saying it's a historic day and that all parties wanted commercial surrogacy to be stopped to prevent exploitation of women.

14:08 (IST)

Lok Sabha reconvenes

12:39 (IST)

Issues causing uproar in Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha has been adjourned twice already amid protests by MPs over a number of subjects. This includes sloganeering and protests by members from the AIADMK, the Congress and the TDP.

AIADMK is protesting against the construction of a dam across the Cauvery river. Congress MPs are demanding a JPC probe into the Rafale deal. The TDP is seeking to raise issues related to Andhra Pradesh.

When the House convened for the day, members from the three parties trooped into the Well, holding placards and shouting slogans. More than 40 members were in the Well. BJP MPs also sought to raise certain issues from their seats

12:21 (IST)

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the Lok Sabha till 2 pm after members laid papers on the table of the House listed against their names. This continued amid growing din in the House, with Congress leaders shouting slogans demanding a JPC probe into the Rafale deal and AIADMK members accusing the Centre of neglecting Tamil Nadu.

12:14 (IST)

BJP leader brings up Kamal Nath's comments on UP, Bihar migrants

A BJP leader brought up Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath's comments on migrants from UP and Bihar taking jobs from locals in Madhya Pradesh. He pointed out that Nath himself was from Kanpur.

12:13 (IST)

BJP rejects need for JPC probe

Multiple BJP leaders rejected the need for a JPC probe into the Rafale deal, saying that the Supreme Court had made it clear that there were no deregularities.

12:12 (IST)

Mallikarjun Kharge​ reiterates demand for JPC

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said there were deregularities and corruption in the way the Rafale deal was signed. He pointed out the loss of technology transfer to HAL as well as the loss to national exchequer. He demanded a JPC probe to "fix accountability".

"Kindly allow this and all details will come out. Every file will be checked by Parliament, not the Supreme Court."

12:06 (IST)

Sloganeering resumes in Lok Sabha

Sumitra Mahajan is presiding over the House and trying to conduct business amid loud shouts by members. MPs are protesting over the Rafale issue, the proposed dam project over the Cauvery river and special status for Andhra Pradesh.

12:02 (IST)

Lok Sabha reconvenes

11:41 (IST)

Rajya Sabha MPs contributed over Rs 38 crore for Kerala flood relief

When he convened the House, Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu announced that MPs from the House had contributed over Rs 36 crore for relief work for the Kerala floods. Of this, 97 MPs contributed from their Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme and 60 MPs donated a month's salary.

11:31 (IST)

'JPC was formed for Bofors and 2G cases'

Mallikarjun Kharge on Rafale: We want JPC as we'll only get to know everything when parliament members sit & look into files. JPC was formed in Bofors & 2G cases also. How can there be a typo? Had it been one word it would've been understandable,entire paragraph can’t be a typo. pic.twitter.com/5QdEUcSKC1

Rajya Sabha will not function from 24 to 26 December so members can celebrate Christmas back home, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said. "Let's utilise the time properly," he said, targeting MPs were did not allow the House to function for the first six days of the Winter Session.

This was minutes before Naidu adjoured Rajya Sabha for the day amid chaos, saying "I don't want people to see this".

The hall also has portraits of former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. But the portraits of prime ministers who died after the Gandhis — VP Singh, Chandra Shekhar and IK Gujral — have not yet found a place in the hall. After Shyama Prasad Mukerjee, Vajpayee will be the second BJP leader to figure in a portrait in Parliament's central hall

IANS

11:15 (IST)

'It is clear you don't want the House to run'

Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu, irate over the ruckus in the Upper House, said it was clear members were not ready to allow the House to run and adjourned the session for the day, to convene at 11 am tomorrow. He said he didn't want to see the people watch Parliament functioning this way.

11:14 (IST)

Lok Sabha adjourned

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House till noon after a brief discussion on questions related to development of the North East.

11:13 (IST)

TDP MPs protest in front of Gandhi statue

TDP MPs have been protesting to press for special category status for Andhra Pradesh.

Sessions in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have commenced. While the atmosphere is peaceful in the Upper House, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan is conducting the proceedings in the Lower House amid sloganeering and ruckus.

10:59 (IST)

The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill to come up in Rajya Sabha

The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2018 is to be debated in the Rajya Sabha today. The Bill seeks to amend the Representation of People Act, 1950 and the Representation of People Act, 1951 to allow for proxy voting and to make certain provisions of the Acts gender-neutral. The 1951 Act permits an overseas voter to vote only in person but the bill seeks to amend this. If it is passed, overseas voters would be able to cast their vote in person or by proxy in the constituency where the poll is taken.

10:54 (IST)

Rajya Sabha to debate two key bills on education sector

The Rajya Sabha will discuss two important bills related to the education sector. Union education minister Prakash Javadekar will move that the National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill, 2018 be passed. He is also expected to introduce the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2018 for consideration and passing.

10:40 (IST)

CPM, Congress give adjournment motion notices in Lok Sabha

The Congress and the CPM have given an adjournment notice for today even as proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were disrupted for the sixth consecutive day on Tuesday over various issues, including the Rafale fighter jets deal.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Congress give adjournment motion notices in Lok Sabha over the Rafale deal and demonetisation respectively. The adjournment notice is handed to request an Adjournment Motion, which is the procedure for adjournment of the business of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, which can be moved with the consent of the Speaker.

Parliament LIVE Updates: The Lok Sabha reconvened with more sloganeering by Congress and AIADMK members. Amid the din, Health Minister JP Nadda introduced the surrogacy bill, after which TMC's Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar spoke on the matter, saying "fashion surrogacy" must be stopped and calling for a public debate on the bill.

The House was adjourned earlier amid more 'JPC' sloganeering by Congress leaders. After Mallikarjun Kharge said an inquiry will "fix accountability" and protests growing louder, the House was adjourned till 2 pm.

Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the House for the day, saying it is 'clear you don't want the House to run and I don't want people to see this. The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon. When the sessions commenced for day 7 of the Winter Session of Parliament, the atmosphere is peaceful in the Upper House, but Speaker Sumitra Mahajan was conducting the proceedings in the Lower House amid sloganeering and ruckus.

The Congress and the CPM have given an adjournment notice for today even as proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were disrupted for the sixth consecutive day on Tuesday over various issues, including the Rafale fighter jets deal.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Congress give adjournment motion notices in Lok Sabha over the Rafale deal and demonetisation respectively. The adjournment notice is handed to request an Adjournment Motion, which is the procedure for adjournment of the business of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, which can be moved with the consent of the Speaker.

However, the debate is unlikely to continue with both Congress and BJP sparring over the induction of French made Rafale fighter jest in Indian Air Force. The Congress has alleged that the government struck a deal to buy overpriced jets and randomly assigned offset partners to help its businessman friends. The BJP, meanwhile, is buoyed by a Supreme Court order which refused to look into the defence deal.

In the legislative business, the government will try to move and pass the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2018, The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, and The Nationa Medical CommissionBill, 2017 amid others.